The Dangers of Upgrading to Windows 8

By Edward Tan, JD on
April 25, 2012 6:03 AM

Just when you were getting a handle on Windows 7, Microsoft decides to update its popular operating system.

Windows 8 is going to mark some stark changes for the OS. Chief among them is the new "Metro" user interface. Microsoft is really pushing their new touched-based UI as the next big thing in home and office computing.

But the changes might not all be for the better for attorneys and consumers alike. There are some dangers when it comes to upgrading to Windows 8.

Gone are the days of using a mouse to click on icons. Microsoft wants users to interact with their PCs much in the same way they do with their iPhones and other tablet devices -- by touching and dragging tiles (think app icons) with your fingertips.

This may sound great, but the reality could cause more headaches than smiles. So before you or your firm decides to plunk down cash for the update, you may want to consider the following.

1) No Start Button

That's not necessarily true. In the latest Windows 8 Consumer Preview the button is still there on the lower left corner of the screen, it's just invisible .

Now instead of being able to click on it directly, you have to hover over the area for a second and wait for it to pop up.

Microsoft probably did this to get people to start using the new Metro tiles instead of going back to old mousing habits. But in this case, it's more of an annoyance for anyone who has used Windows for decades.

2) Metro Is The New Desktop

As it stands currently, the new Metro screen is the first thing that pops up when you start Windows 8. You can still switch to the old desktop view we all know and love. But there's no way to default to it under the current build.

3) No Tile Grouping

Those of you who were early iPhone adopters may remember that the first iOS versions didn't allow you to group your apps into the same folder. Instead, every time you installed a new one, another app icon would appear and take up precious screen space.

That problem was eventually remedied by Apple after a few firmware updates. Microsoft on the other hand is making it a feature in Metro.

This means that every time you want to add a new program, another tile will clutter up your Metro screen.

Now there's always a learning curve when a company decides to revamp their software. But as it stands, the annoyances and dangers of upgrading to Windows 8 should give some lawyers and consumers pause before taking the leap.